Office of Lakes & Watersheds
Dane County Land and Water Resources Department

Dane County Office of Lakes & Watersheds has a history of bringing people and
organizations together to share solutions to the variety of challenges they all
face, such as monitoring, strategic partnering, capacity building, volunteer
coordination and more. Through the
Dane County Watershed Network,
organizations with a connection to lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and more share
ideas, solve problems and learn from each other.

2015 Water-related Budget Recommendations

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission adopted its 2015 water-related
budget recommendations to the County Executive on
August 21, 2014 following a public hearing.

Watch for additional opportunities to share your views about the county's 2015
budget. The County Executive will release his budget around October 1, and the
County Board will then review this proposal, typically adopting the following
year's budget by Thanksgiving.

Read the Latest Research Reports

Several research reports were published in 2013, in addition to the Turville
Bay report described later on this page. Review the latest science on Lake
Wingra, Madison beaches, the Yahara River-Cherokee Marsh system, and Yahara
chain of lakes water quality.

Rhythm and Booms Fireworks Recommendations

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission has reviewed the proposal to
launch this annual fireworks display over Lake Monona, consulted with water
quality and public health experts, and invited public comment. The Commission
adopted its
Rhythm and Booms Recommendations
on December 12, 2013.

2014 Take a Stake Days

Check out the many things happening in, on and around Dane County lakes, rivers
and wetlands this year! Join in the fun and help protect and enhance our precious
water resources

Working Together to Improve the Yahara Watershed

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission and staff at the Office of Lakes
and Watersheds are part of an exciting partnership working to protect and improve
the Yahara River chain of lakes, including Lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa,
and Kegonsa. Lake users, residents, and other stakeholders are working together
to refine and implement Yahara CLEAN Report priority lake improvement recommendations, which in turn
will help make our 'practical vision' for the future of the lakes a reality. Additional
reports and background on the Yahara CLEAN report are available on the Yahara Lakes Legacy Partnership website.

The Lakes and Watershed Commission's Strategic Engagement Committee holds Yahara Watershed Initiatives Briefings three to four times a year, as an opportunity
for those directly involved in Yahara watershed improvement initiatives to share
information and explore opportunities for synergy and integration among projects.

Aquatic Plant Management Project in Turville Bay

Dane County, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the US Army Corps
of Engineers completed the Turville Bay research project in 2013 and published
the results as a fact sheet
and project report. This
project evaluated the response of selective early-season herbicide application
and cutting of aquatic plants on Turville Bay, the southwest area of Lake
Monona, on Eurasian water milfoil (EWM, an invasive aquatic exotic plant) and
on native plant communities.

Eurasian water milfoil begins growing early in the year, and creates a dense
growth canopy which shades out native plant species. Cooperating scientists and
managers wondered if controlling EWM early in the season would give an
advantage to native plants. The research project found that both herbicide and
harvested early-season treatment resulted in significant decreases in EWM.
Mechanical harvesting produced more variable results, but better protected
native coontail plants. The herbicide treatment resulted in longer control of
EWM than mechanical harvesting.

At a November 2013 meeting sponsored by the Office of Lakes and Watersheds,
the research partners engaged in a community discussion about the project's
final report. Wisconsin DNR research scientist Martha Barton's presentation
slides are available here.

Learn About the State of Dane County Waters

Join Dane Stewards

Join the Dane Stewards listserv to stay
up to date on events and information regarding Dane County's water resources!

Lake Level Management

Our colleagues elsewhere in our Land and Water Resources Department provide up-to-date
information on lake levels in the Yahara River chain of lakes. On the lake level data page you can also download a copy of the Lake Level Management
Guide for the Yahara Chain of Lakes.

Ordinance on Coal Tar Sealants

The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission's ordinance regulating coal tar
sealants was adopted by the County Board, and is effective July 1, 2007. Click here for more information.